Dimpled Guidewire Joint for CTO Penetration and Steerability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional guidewires lack sufficient distal support and steerability, particularly in navigating tortuous vasculature, and often cause vessel damage due to stiffness issues and abrupt resistance changes during advancement.

Innovation Solution

A guidewire design featuring a radiopaque inner coil and a non-radiopaque outer coil with a smooth transition region, enhanced torque response, and a parabolic grind profile for improved flexibility and tactile feedback, along with a micro-J shaped distal tip and dimpled solder joint for increased maneuverability and reduced risk of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If guidewire stiffness is increased to provide distal support, then distal support is improved, but steerability deteriorates and vessel damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistal supportVSAvoidsteerability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire is divided into multiple sections with different stiffness characteristics: a more flexible distal section for navigation and steerability, and a stiffer proximal section for distal support. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the guidewire are given different mechanical properties - the distal section has lower stiffness to enable steering and vessel navigation, while the proximal section has higher stiffness to provide support. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between overall support and local steerability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If guidewire stiffness is increased to provide distal support, then distal support is improved, but vessel damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistal supportVSAvoidvessel damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire is segmented into a flexible distal section that contacts the vessel wall and a stiffer proximal section that provides support. The flexible distal section reduces vessel damage risk while the stiffer proximal section maintains distal support capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guidewire has locally differentiated stiffness properties where the distal section has lower stiffness to minimize vessel trauma, while the proximal section has higher stiffness to provide necessary support. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between support and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If abrupt stiffness changes are introduced to improve distal support, then distal support is improved, but tactile feedback deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistal supportVSAvoidtactile feedback

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire incorporates a gradual transition zone between sections of different stiffness, creating a dynamic gradient rather than an abrupt change. This allows tactile feedback to be maintained while still providing improved distal support through the differentiated stiffness sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20240156474A1Dimpled joint for guidewire

Publication Date: 2024.05.16 ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has a solder or weld joint at a distal end thereof. A plurality of dimples are formed on the solder/weld joint to increase the engagement and penetration of fibrous material including chronic total occlusions (CTO).